10 Most Common Monitoring Errors and How to Fix Them

Monitoring errors can be frustrating for beginners and small business owners alike. Understanding the most common issues and how to fix them will help you maintain reliable uptime and avoid unnecessary alerts.

1. Unknown Host

This occurs when the domain name cannot be resolved. Common causes include DNS misconfiguration, typos in the domain, or temporary DNS downtime.
Fix: Check your DNS records, ensure proper propagation, and confirm domain spelling.

2. Timeout

The monitoring request did not get a response in time. Causes include a slow server, overloaded hosting, or network issues.
Fix: Optimize your server, increase timeout settings if possible, and monitor during off-peak hours.

3. Invalid Port

Occurs when the monitor tries to connect to a closed or incorrect port.
Fix: Verify the service port, open firewall rules if needed, and ensure the service is running.

4. Connection Refused

The server actively refused the connection. Causes can include firewall rules, incorrect server configuration, or the service not running.
Fix: Check firewall settings and service status.

5. SSL Certificate Issues

Expired, invalid, or misconfigured SSL certificates can trigger errors.
Fix: Renew certificates on time, configure correctly, and monitor expiration dates.

6. Partial Content

HTTP 200 may return, but some assets fail to load, leading to broken pages.
Fix: Monitor key pages and assets, check CDN or hosting issues.

7. DNS Resolution Delay

Slow DNS lookup can cause delays or false alerts.
Fix: Use reliable DNS providers and monitor response times.

8. Geo-specific Failures

The service works in one region but fails in others.
Fix: Use multi-location monitoring and optimize CDNs.

9. API Response Errors

APIs may return errors or invalid data.
Fix: Monitor critical endpoints, check API logs, and validate responses.

10. False Positives / Noisy Alerts

Alerts may trigger even when the service is fine.
Fix: Adjust thresholds, configure retries, and use multi-step checks.

Conclusion

Understanding these common monitoring errors helps prevent downtime and reduces frustration. With layered monitoring, retries, and clear alerts, UptyBots ensures your services stay reliable.

Start improving your uptime today: See our tutorials or choose a plan.